Concentrating apparatus.



Starts UNER THOMAS ROI/VLAND JORDAN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TOTHE JORDAN GRAVITATION PROCESS COMPANY, OF NE\V YORK.

CONCENTRATIN'G APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 661 ,997, datedNovember 20, 1900.

Application tiled .Tune 8, 1900.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS RowLAND J 0R- DAN, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at 325 Amsterdam avenue,New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Concentrating Apparatus; and I do declare the followingto be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thegures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention is directed to the concentration of minerals and otherbodies containing material capable of forming concentrates, the objectof the improvement being the provision of a comparatively simple andinexpensive appliance by the employment of which the gangue or wastematerial is rapidly driven oft' and concentration of the valuablematerial effected in a highly efficient and expeditious manner.

Generally speaking, my invention contemplates the provision ofconcentrating-tubes of novel construction adapted to be connected in amanner to secure control of the passage of the material in suspensiontherethrough to vary the concentrating effects of the watercurrentsrequired by the different specific gravity of the materials contained inthe bodies under treatment.

The invention in all of 'its details is hereinafter described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure is anelevation, partlyin section, of a series of concentrating-tubesembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of one of the tubes.Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of one of the tube-Stoppers.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the three tubes 24 2526, which number I preferably employ, are of similar construction withthe exception of the upper sections, which provide upper chambers 27 ofpreferably different diameters. Each tube has a lower chamber 2S and arestricted passage 29 between the chambers. The tube between the Iupperand lower chamber portions vand Serial No. 19,579. (No model.)

the restricted connecting-passage 29 is of tapering form, whereby noshoulders or abutments are presented to the water and material to retardits flow, and the tapering connection between said passage and the lowerchamber in addition provides a conical seat 30 for a conicalregulating-valve 3l, the function of which is to control the area of thepassage for the water-current. The water is admitted to'the tube at thelower end of the lower chamber through a tube 32, which is connectedwith the water-supply. The valve 3l is mounted on the upper end of thetube 32, and the concentric position of the valve is maintained by aspider 33 or equivalent device, which may be made to slide over tube 32or made integrally with the valve. Openings 34 in the tube 32 below itsconnection with the valve aord outlets for the water which rises pastthe valve into the upper chamber, or said openings may be formed in thelower portion of the valve. fected by raising or lowering the tube 32.The tubes 24, 25, and 26 are each formed with open ends, and corks orStoppers 35 36 are employed to close the upper and lower ends,respectively, and to afford mountings for the tube connections. Each ofthe stoppers, which are preferably of rubber or its equivalent, isprovided with a plug portion 37, fitting closely the inner side of thetube end, and a ange 38, tting closely the outer side of said end,whereby the tube is made absolutely water-tight and the Stoppers arefirmly held in place by internal and external pressure. The plug portion37 preferably has a depth in excess of that of the outer flange, and theannular groove or recess 39 between the plug and Harige which receivesthe end of the tube preferably tapers toward its base to exert a wedgingaction on the tube. The Stoppers 36 for the lower end of each of thetubes are centrally apertured to receive the water-supply tube 32, andthe upper side of the plug portion 37 of this stopper is beveled todirect the concentrates to one side of the tube, where there is providedan outlet 40. The stopper 35 for the upper end of tube 24 is aperturedto receive a tube LIl, which supplies the material, and a siphon-tube42, which conveys the material in Adjustment of the valve is ef-v IOO YY l Iinlet.

solution to the next tube. The tube L1 is connected in practice with thematerial-supplier, and the material, with a quantity of water, is fedthrough this tube into the lower end of the upper chamber 27, where itmeets with the rising water current delivered through the tube 32, theseparation of the heavier from the lighter particles and gangue takingplace at and below the restricted passage 29. The siphon-tube 42 ispreferably formed in sections, which are connected by a rubber or otherfiexible coupling-tube 43. Such construction facilitates raising and lowering of the Siphon-tube to vary the siphon action to suit differentmaterials. A siphontube 44:, carried by the tube 26, constitutes thedischarge-outlet from the apparatus of the gangue or waste material. Theupper` chamber 27 of the tube 25 is of larger diameter than thecorresponding chamber of the iirst tube 24, and the upper chamber of thethird or last tube 2G is further increased in diameter,the enlargementbeing proportion ed to the increased volume of water passingtherethrough, thus equalizing the velocity of the upward current in theupper chambers. In Fig. lis shown an arrangement of piping for feedingwater to the tubes. A water-supply pipe 56, which is connected with awater source, is provided with a controlling-valve 57, and leading fromt-he pipe are branch pipes or tips 58, corresponding in number andposition to the concentratingtubes which are positioned above. 59 59denote rubber or other tubes or pipes, which afford con plings betweenthe tips 58 and the tubes, necks, or other devices provided at thewater-inlets to the lower chambers. lating-valve 60, which, in case thetube is of rubber, is of the clip type, the regulation being eiected bycompressing the tube.

In operation water in controllable quantity is admitted to the lowerchambers and the material is supplied to the first tube through the beris subjected to the action of the rising Water, which being Linderproper pressure operates to overcome the specific gravity of all but theheaviest particles of the material, the li ghtertparticles,with the gangue or Waste material, being carried with the water through t theSiphon-tube into the second tube. One of the functions of thisSiphon-tube is to exert a suction action on the water and material insuspension, and thus induce a more or less Each of the tubes 59 has areguceiving concentrates having a dischargeopening, and a closure forthe tube provided with The material entering the upper cham- 1 lighterparticles and gangue pass through the Siphon-tube into the second tube.The pressure of the water column in the second tube is preferably ofless degree than the column in the first tube, the result being that inthis second tube the lighter particles are separated and collected, thelightest particles, with the of the s phon-tubes tends to produceagitation of the particles of material, and thus preserve properdivision thereof. The concentrates `maybe withdrawn continuously fromthe lower chambers through theoutlet-openings.

I claim as my inventionl. A concentrating-tube having an upper:cylindrical chamber and a lower cylindrical chamber of uniform diameterthroughout, ;said chambers being connected by a restrictled passage thewalls of which gradually taper, a conical valve-seat at the restrictedpassage, a conical valve having a vertically-presented apex, means foradjusting said valve to or from said seat to control the area ofwater-current,an inlet for water below the valve,

:and an inlet for material and an outlet for gangue in the upperchamber.

2. In a concentrating-tube, a chamber rea plug portion entering thechamber to the level of the discharge-opening and beveled throughoutupward from said discharge-opening to direct the concentrates thereto.

3. In combination with aconcentrating-tube having a plain cylindricalend, a closure for said end having an annular groove of wedge form incross-section receiving the tube end whereby an inner and an outerwedge-joint is obtained.`

4. In a concentrating apparatus, a plurality of tubes having inletstoward their lower end for water in controllablequantity; one of theQtubes having an inlet for material, and adjustable siphon connections`affording passages between the tubes, each siphon connection being insections which are flexibly connected thereby permitting readyadjustment.

5. In a concentrating apparatus, a plurality` of tubes having inletstoward their lower end for water in controllable quantity, one of thetubes having an inlet for material, adjustable Siphon connectionsaording passages between the upper portions of the tubes,a valvedwater-supply pipe, and a valved branch pipe leading from the supply-pipeto each inlet.

IDO

IIO

(i. In a concentrating apparatus, aseries 0f connections between thetubes, and an outtubes having' upper and lower chambers e011- let formaterial in the last tube. [o neoted by restricted tube portions theupper In testimony whereof I affix my signature chambers increasing indiameter from the in presence of two Witnesses.

rst to the last tube of the series, inlets at THOMAS ROWLAND JORDAN. thelower Chambers for water in controllable Witnesses:

quantity, an inlet for material at the upper WM. A. TOPPING,

chamber of the first tube, adjustable Siphon EDW. F. A. VAUGHAN.

